SCHAFER APPOINTS AGRICULTURAL AIR QUALITY TASK FORCE
WASHINGTON, November 6, 2008 – Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer today announced the renewal of the Agricultural Air Quality Task Force and the selection of the individuals to serve as members for the two-year, 2008 - 2010 term. The task force is chaired by the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and is comprised of USDA employees, industry representatives, and other experts in the fields of agriculture and air quality.
"This task force serves a very important role because conservation of our natural resources, including protecting air quality, is particularly vital to our farmers and ranchers who depend on these resources to produce our nation's food and fiber." Schafer said.
The role of the task force is to advise the Agriculture Secretary on issues related to agricultural air quality, including strengthening and coordinating USDA air quality research efforts and identifying cost-effective ways in which the agriculture industry can improve air quality.
Representatives from USDA's Forest Service, Agricultural Research Service and Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service will also participate on the task force. Names of task force members announced today are below. Additional information on the task force is available on the Web at: http://www.airquality.nrcs.usda.gov/AAQTF/ or by contacting Michele Laur, NRCS designated federal official (DFO), at 202-720-1858, or e-mail michele.laur@wdc.usda.gov. For more information about USDA and NRCS contact your local USDA Service Center or go to: www.usda.gov/ .
2008-2010 USDA AGRICULTURAL AIR QUALITY TASK FORCE
Arizona:
Kevin G. Rogers, Producer/Rogers Brothers Partnership
California:
Kevin Abernathy, California Dairy Campaign
Cynthia Cory, California Farm Bureau Federation
Manuel F. Cunha, Jr., Nisei Farmers League
Roger Isom, California Cotton Ginners & Growers
Paul Martin, Western United Dairymen
Richard McVeigh, San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District
Iowa:
Robert Burns, Iowa State University
Jerry Hatfield, USDA ARS
Chris Petersen, Producer/C&K Family Farm
Hongwei Xin, Iowa State University
Kansas:
Brian Lindley, No-till on the Plains, Inc.
Charles Rice, Kansas State University
Michigan:
Wendy Powers, Michigan State University
Minnesota:
Sagar Krupa, University of Minnesota
New York:
Douglas Shelmidine, Producer/Sheland Farms
North Carolina:
Sally L. Shaver, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Ohio:
Leon Weaver, Bridgewater Dairy
Pennsylvania:
Eileen Wheeler, Pennsylvania State University
Tennessee:
Bill Norman, National Cotton Council of America
Texas:
Robert V. Avant, Jr., Texas A&M University
Bryan Shaw, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Benjamin T. Weinheimer, Texas Cattle Feeders Association
